Tag Archives: Johnny Mercer

Chet Baker: (Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen to You

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On November 3, 1958, “Riverside” label released “(Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen to You”, album by Chet Baker. It was recorded in August 1958, at “Reeves Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Bill Grauer.

Personnel:

  • Chet Baker – vocals, trumpet
  • Kenny Drew – piano
  • George Morrow – bass 
  • Sam Jones – bass
  • Philly Joe Jones – drums 
  • Dannie Richmond – drums
  • Jack Higgins – engineer
  • Paul Bacon – design
  • Paul Weller – photography

Track listing:

  1. Do It the Hard Way – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  2. I’m Old Fashioned – Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer
  3. You’re Driving Me Crazy – Walter Donaldson
  4. It Could Happen to You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  5. My Heart Stood Still – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  6. The More I See You – Harry Warren, Mack Gordon
  7. Everything Happen to Me – Man Fennis, Tom Adair
  8. Dancing on the Ceiling – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  9. How Long Has This Been Going On – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  10. Old Devil Moon – Burton Lane, E.Y. Harbirg

Wes Montgomery: So Much Guitar!

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In October 1961, “Riverside” label released “So Much Guitar!”, the fourth Wes Montgomery album. It was recorded in August 1961, at “Plaza Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Orin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Wes Montgomery – guitar
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Lex Humphries – drums
  • Ray Barretto – conga
  • Ray Fowler – engineer
  • Ken Deardoff – design

Track listing:

  1. Twisted Blues – Wes Montgomery
  2. Cotton Tail – Duke Ellington
  3. I Wish I Knew – Mack Gordon, Harry Warren
  4. I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So – Duke Ellington, Mack David
  5. Repetition – Neal Hefti
  6. Somethin’ Like Bags – Wes Montgomery
  7. While We’re Young – Morty Palitz, Alec Wilder
  8. One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer

Johnny Hodges: Used To Be Duke

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In October 1956, “Norgan” label released “Used to Be Duke”, the eight Johnny Hodges album. It was recorded July – August 1954, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone
  • Jimmy Hamilton – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
  • Harry Carney – baritone saxophone
  • Shorty Baker – trumpet
  • Lawrence Brown – trombone
  • Call Cobbs Jr., Richie Powell – piano
  • John “Buddy” Williams – double bass
  • Louie Bellson – drums
  • Herman Leonard – photography
  • Norman Granz – supervision

Track listing:

  1. Used to Be Duke – Johnny Hodges
  2. On the Sunny Side of the Street – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
  3. Sweet as Bear Meat – Johnny Hodges
  4. Madam Butterfly – Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges
  5. Warm Valley – Duke Ellington
  6. Ballad medley: Autumn In New York / Sweet Lorraine / Time On My Hands / Smoke Gets in Your Eyes / If You Were Mine / Poor Butterfly – Vernon Duke / Cliff Burwell, Mitchell Parish / Vincent Youmans, Harold Adamson, Mack Gordon / Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach / Matty Malneck, Johnny Mercer / Raymond Hubbell, John Golden

Billie Holiday: Music For Torching

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In October 1955, “Clef Records” label released “Music for Torching”, the fourth Billie Holiday album. It was recorded in August 1955, in Los Angeles, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Billie Holiday – vocals
  • Barney Kessel – guitar
  • Jimmy Rowles – piano
  • Benny Carter – alto saxophone
  • Harry “Sweets” Edison – trumpet
  • John Simmons – bass
  • Larry Bunker – drums
  • David Stone Martin – artwork

Track listing:

  1. It Had to Be You – Isham Jones, Gus Kahn
  2. Come Rain or Come Shine – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  3. I Don’t Want to Cry Anymore – Victor Schertzinger
  4. I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You – Victor Young, Ned Washington, Bing Crosby
  5. A Fine Romance – Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields
  6. Gone with the Wind – Allie Wrubel, Herb Magidson
  7. I Get a Kick Out of You – Cole Porter
  8. Isn’t This a Lovely Day? – Irving Berlin

Grant Green: Talkin’ About

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In September 1965, “Blue Note” label released “Talkin’ About!”, the 20th Grant Green album. It was recorded in September 1964, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs” New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Grant Green – guitar
  • Larry Young – organ
  • Elvin Jones – drums
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Talkin’ About J.C. – Larry Young
  2. People – Bob Merrill, Jule Styne
  3. Luny Tune – Larry Young
  4. You Don’t Know What Love Is – Gene de Paul, Don Raye
  5. I’m an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande) – Johnny Mercer

Curtis Fuller: The Opener

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In September 1957, “Blue Note” label released “The Opener”, the third Curtis Fuller album. It was recorded in June 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Curtis Fuller – trombone
  • Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone 
  • Bobby Timmons – piano
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Art Taylor – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Francis Wolff – cover photography
  • Robert Levin – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Curtis Fuller, excepted where noted.

  1. A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening – Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh
  2. Hugore
  3. Oscalypso – Oscar Pettiford
  4. Here’s to My Lady – Rube Bloom, Johnny Mercer
  5. Lizzy’s Bounce
  6. Soon – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin

Kenny Burrell: Introducing Kenny Burrell

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In September 1956, “Blue Note” label released “Introducing Kenny Burrell”, the debut Kenny Burrell album. It was recorded in May 1956, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Kenny Burrell – guitar
  • Tommy Flanagan – piano
  • Paul Chambers – double bass
  • Kenny Clarke – drums
  • Candido Camero – conga
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Reid K. Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. This Time the Dream’s on Me – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  2. Fugue ‘n’ Blues – Kenny Burrell
  3. Takeela – Kenny Burrell
  4. Weaver of Dreams – Jack Elliot, Victor Young
  5. Delilah – Victor Young
  6. Rhythmorama – Kenny Clarke
  7. Blues for Skeeter – Kenny Burrell

Etta James: Etta James Sings For Lovers

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On August 24, 1962, “Argo” label released “Etta James Sings for Lovers”, the fourth Etta James studio album. It was recorded in June 1962, and was produced by Leonard Chess and Phil Chess.

Personnel:

  • Etta James – vocal
  • Riley Hampton – arrangements
  • Al Poskonka – arrangements
  • Ron Malo – engineer
  • Don Bronstein – cover
  • Ralph Bass – supervision

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Take Your Love from Me – Henry Nemo
  2. How Do You Speak to an Angel – Bob Hilliard, Jule Styne
  3. Fools Rush In – Johnny Mercer, Rube Bloom
  4. Don’t Blame Me – Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields
  5. Someone to Watch Over Me – Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
  6. Again – Dorcas Cochran, Lionel Newman
  7. I Want to Be Loved – Savannah Churchill
  8. It Could Happen to You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  9. These Foolish Things – Eric Maschwitz, Harry Link, Jack Strachey
  10. Prisoner of Love – Clarence Gaskill, Leo Robin, Russ Columbo

Etta James: Blue Gardenia

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On August 21, 2001, “Private Music” label released “Blue Gardenia”, the twenty-fifth Etta James studio album. It was recorded November 2000 – February 2001, and was produced by John Snyder.

Personnel:

  • Etta James – vocals
  • Dorothy Hawkins – vocals
  • Josh Sklair – guitar, arrangements
  • Cedar Walton – piano, arrangements
  • Tony Dumas – bass
  • Ralph Penland – drums
  • Ron Powell – percussion
  • Red Holloway – saxophone
  • George Bohanon – trombone
  • Rick Baptist – flugelhorn
  • Ronnie Buttacavoli – flugelhorn, trumpet
  • John Nelson – engineer
  • Jay Newland – engineer
  • Charlie Watts – engineer
  • Sonny Mediana – art direction, photography
  • Lupe DeLeon – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. This Bitter Earth – Clyde Otis
  2. He’s Funny That Way – Neil Moret, Richard A. Whiting
  3. In My Solitude – Eddie DeLange, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  4. There Is No Greater Love – Isham Jones, Marty Symes
  5. Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying – Joe Greene
  6. Love Letters – Edward Heyman, Victor Young
  7. These Foolish Things – Harry Link, Holt Marvell, Jack Strachey
  8. Come Rain or Come Shine – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  9. Don’t Worry ’bout Me – Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler
  10. Cry Me a River – Arthur Hamilton
  11. Don’t Blame Me – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
  12. My Man – Channing Pollack, Yvain-Albert, Maurice Yvain
  13. Blue Gardenia – Lester Lee, Bob Russell

Wes Montgomery: Boss Guitar

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In July 1963, “Riverside” label released “Boss Guitar”, the eight Wes Montgomery album. It was recorded in April 1963, at “Plaza Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Wes Montgomery – guitar
  • Melvin Rhyne – organ
  • Jimmy Cobb – drums
  • Ray Fowler – engineer

Personnel:

  1. Besame Mucho – Consuelo Velázquez, Sunny Skylar
  2. Dearly Beloved – Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer
  3. Days of Wine and Roses – Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer
  4. The Trick Bag – Wes Montgomery
  5. Canadian Sunset – Eddie Heywood, Norman Gimbel
  6. Fried Pies – Wes Montgomery
  7. The Breeze and I – Ernesto Lecuona, Al Stillman
  8. For Heaven’s Sake – Elise Bretton, Sherman Edwards, Donald Meyer